Waveney Valley Athletic Club’s Sam Lines produced a first-class performance on Sunday at the Great Bentley Half Marathon. After being side-lined through injury and illness for four months, she took part in one of the top races in Essex and, on just two weeks training, she ran a personal best 1.28:02, knocking almost ten minutes off her previous best she had set at Bungay two years ago. From a strong field of 647 athletes, a delighted Sam finished 86th overall and second female senior.

There was a record number of 676 finishers at the Freethorpe 10 mile event, which included 21 from Waveney Valley A.C. Despite very windy conditions, just under half of club members achieved PB’s. First to finish for Waveney was Chris Meadows in 46th in 1.04:49 then Steve Carruthers in 47th in a personal best 1.04:54. Andy Ayers, in his debut 10 miler, was 100th in 1.10:22 then Bill Kingaby finished 170th in 1.15:12 and won second prize in the Mens 65+ age category. Other results: 184 Lisa Knights 1.15:59, 211 Mike Illingsworth 1.17:28, 221 David Mower 1.17:52, 230 Becky Langford 1.18:24 – PB by almost three minutes, 251 Wayne Freeman 1.19:27, 301 Stephanie Pimlott 1.22:08 PB, 328 Daren Coulter 1.24:27, 405 Louise Harrod 1.28:42 PB, 407 Grainne Purvis 1.28:43 PB, 408 Anita Drake 1.28:49, 411 James Drake 1.28:51, 468 Louise Adamson 1.33:30, 469 Lee Roth 1.33:33, 513 Demelza Hammond 1.36:42 PB, 579 Alan Varle 1.43:20, 598 Gavin Hamilton 1.45:43 – PB by more than three minutes, 633 Sarah Etherton-Nicoll 1.52:34.

On January 27, Bob Milner tackled the Peddars Way Ultra from Knettishall Heath near Thetford to Holme in North Norfolk, a distance of around 48 miles. He finished in 70th place in a time of 10 hours,15 mins and 11 secs. 5k parkrun PB’s: Mark Smith 20:59, Mark Spackman 26:45, Jim Burgess 17:40, Daren Coulter 22:07, Rachel Carver 32:03, Sue Cole 38:45, William Browne 21:20, Robin Jones 22:47